2026 Alumni Awards celebrate Mac grads’ contributions

“This week, McMaster’s alumni community gathered in L.R. Wilson Hall for the annual McMaster Alumni Association Alumni Awards. This year’s ceremony, which recognized 16 grads and students, was a joyful celebration of some of McMaster’s best and brightest. “This year’s slate of award winners speaks to many of McMaster’s strengths: research excellence, civic leadership, entrepreneurship, medicine, engineering, and many more,” said President Susan Tighe. “We are pleased to recognize these individuals who have given so much to the university and their communities.” Alumni director Karen McQuigge added, “Whether they graduated last month or 30 years ago, these honourees are reminders of the power and breadth of our alumni community. Their professional accomplishments and community leadership make us all proud.” Here are this year’s award winners. You can read their full profiles, along with those of past winners, at alumni.mcmaster.ca . Alumni Gallery inductees The members of the McMaster Alumni Gallery are McMaster graduates who have made interesting or important contributions to society. Here are this year’s gallery inductees: Jennifer Adese ’07, ’12 (Faculty of Humanities) is a leading academic researcher and commentator on Métis issues, holding a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Kinship, Colonization and Identity. Leslie McLean ’88, (Faculty of Health Sciences, Nursing) is a leader in nursing, a researcher who focuses on cancer and mental health, and a volunteer who works throughout the Global South. John Valliant ’93, ’97, (Faculty of Science) is an authority on radiopharmaceuticals who holds a Canada Research Chair in Medical Isotopes and Molecular Imaging Probes and founded the biotech company Fusion Pharmaceuticals , one of Canada’s most valuable university spinouts. Arch Award recipients This award honours recent graduates for innovative accomplishments and community impact. The Arch Award recipients are: Kwasi Adu-Poku ’21 (Faculty of Science) is a social entrepreneur and policy expert focused on poverty reduction and homelessness in Toronto. Renata Hall ’19, ’20 (Faculty of Social Sciences) is a clinician and instructor on anti-racism and gender-based violence who has worked extensively with community organizations in Hamilton and British Columbia. Amanda Horn ’15 (Faculty of Humanities) is an entrepreneur and ocean conservationist, advocating through her personal-care-product company, Shower Thoughts. Danial Qureshi ’16, ’18 (Faculty of Science, Faculty of Health Sciences) is an epidemiologist whose research has advanced our understanding of population-level health challenges and informed evidence-based policy. Jaskiran Shoker 15, ’17 (Faculty of Social Sciences) is a team leader in the Ontario government who has earned recognition for her mentorship, civic engagement and leadership. Impact Award Recipients These awards recognize alumni who have made a positive difference in their communities. This year’s recipients are: Hamilton Carla LaBella ’97 (Faculty of Social Sciences) is a psychology professor at Mohawk College who champions compassionate, evidence-based approaches to well-being in education and leadership. Community Meaghan Stovel McKnight ’01 (DeGroote School of Business) is a nonprofit leader whose fundraising and community engagement have supported a strong health system and who has led Make-A-Wish Canada since 2022. Global Shari van de Pol ’01 (Faculty of Engineering) is an entrepreneur and veterinarian whose career bridges engineering, software development, and animal-health innovation . Albert Lager Prize for Student Initiative This award, named for three-time McMaster graduate and longtime McMaster Alumni Association volunteer Albert Lager, recognizes current students for leadership, service and community involvement. This year’s honourees are: Noura Elsabagh ’26 (Faculty of Engineering) has supported her fellow students in countless ways, from founding the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Discord server to volunteering with the ECE Society and EcoCAR and mentoring for Women in Engineering. Mary England ’26 (Faculty of Engineering) is a recent Materials and Biomedical Engineering grad whose volunteer work for Covenant House includes organizing Mac’s first Sleep Out, a youth homelessness awareness and fundraising event in 2022. Matthew John Hammond ’26 (Faculty of Science) is a campus leader who has held several research positions along with volunteer roles with the Indigenous Health Movement, McMaster Science Society, MSU Diversity and Equity Network and many more. Ashley Hauer ’26 (Faculty of Social Sciences) is a serial volunteer who has worked with organizations including the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada and Kids Help Phone, and who led mental health initiatives in her time at Mac. Jennifer Mushagalusa (Faculty of Health Sciences) is a leader in the Black community who has held many roles through the Black Student Success Centre, Blackspace McMaster and the Black BHSc Association, in addition to her global health research and off-campus volunteering. Jennifer is a future member of the Class of 2027. The post 2026 Alumni Awards celebrate Mac grads’ contributions appeared first on McMaster News .

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